Flashlight attachment for alarm clocks or the like



Sept. 18, 1956 D. s. MORENTE FLASHLIGHTATTACHMENT FOR ALARM CLOCKS OR THE LIKE Filed Dec. 17, 1954 Fig. .3

United States Patent FLASHLIGHT ATTACHlVIENT PEER ALAlFlIVl CLOCKS OR THE LIKE Daniel S. Morente, Atlantic City, N. J.

Application December 17, 1954, Serial No. 475,967

1 Claim. (Cl. 2406.43)

The present invention relates to new and useful improvements in illuminating means for alarm clocks, or for other purposes where a portable light is desired.

An important object of the invention is to provide a flashlight structure including a lamp arranged to be energized by a dry cell battery by a predetermined tilting movement of the flashlight.

Another object of the invention is to provide a flashlight which remains de-energized when supported in either a horizontal or upright position, but which becomes automatically energized by a downward tilting movement of the front end of the flashlight.

A still further object is to provide a device of this character of simple and practical construction, which is efficient and reliable in operation, relatively inexpensive to manufacture and otherwise well adapted for the purpose for which the same is intended.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinaftiir described and claimed, reference being had to the accom panying drawing forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective View showing the flashlight attached to a top of a clock;

Figure 2 is an enlarged longitudinal sectional view of the flashlight casing; and,

Figure 3 is a front elevational view showing the flashlight attached to a modified alarm clock construction.

Referring now to the drawing in detail wherein for the purpose of illustration I have disclosed a preferred embodiment of the invention, the numeral 5 designates a flashlight case of rectangular shape and which may be constructed of rubber, plastic or other suitable insulation material and the case is provided with a removable lid of a telescoping type and frictionally fitted on the bottom section 7 of the case.

A metal lining 8 of suitable conductive material is placed in the bottom of the case 5 and is formed with an internally threaded socket 9 to receive the threaded base portion 10 of a lamp 11 which is inserted through an opening 12 in the bottom portion of the case. An annular guard 13 encloses a major portion of the lamp and is secured to the bottom of the case.

A partition 14 is suitably secured inside the case to enclose the socket 9 and base 10 of the lamp and the partition is also of suitable insulation material and is formed with an opening 15 to receive a coil spring 16 of conductive material which has one end bearing against the central contact of the lamp and with the other end of the spring engaged in a recess 18 in a stationary contact 19 which has one end portion 20 suitably secured to the adjacent end wall 21 of the case and with the free Fatented Sept. 18, 1956 end portion 22 of the contact positioned transversely of the case and spaced from the lining 8.

A dry cell battery 23 is placed in the case and includes a shell 24 of conductive material which rests on its side on the lining 8 and with the center contact 25 of the battery opposed to and spaced from the contact 19.

The battery 23 is free to slide longitudinally in the case 5 by a tilting movement of the latter and gravitates into the rear end of the case remote from the contact 19 when the front end of the case in which the lamp 11 is mounted is tilted upwardly. When the front end of the case 5 is tilted downwardly the battery 23 will slide forwardly to close the electric circuit of the battery by engaging the central contact 25 thereof with the contact 19 to thus energize the lamp.

The case 5 is adapted for attaching on the top of an alarm clock of a type shown at 26 in Figure l or on the top of an alarm clock of the type shown at 27 in Figure 3 by means of an elastic band 28 which extends under the clock and over the top of the case to thus firmly secure the case to the clock.

Accordingly, when the battery 23 is positioned in the rear portion of the case and the clock is placed on a supporting surface with the case 5 horizontally, the lamp 11 will remain die-energized and when it is desired to illuminate the clock a forward tilting movement thereof will cause the battery 23 to slide forwardly and close the circuit with the lamp to energize the latter.

A resilient pocket clip 29 is attached to the outer surface of lid 6 of the case and under which the elastic band 28 is positioned to retain the band in place thereon and the clip 29 may also be used to carry the flashlight case 5 in the pocket of a person.

From the foregoing, the construction and operation of the device will be readily understood and further explanation is believed to be unnecessary. However, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the ap pended claims.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

In combination, a portable object, a self-contained illuminating device including an elongated casing having a lamp supported at the underside thereof and adjacent one end of the casing, an elastic band embracing both the object and the casing for securing the casing on top of the object in a position with the lamp equipped end of the casing positioned forwardly of the object for illuminating the front surface of the latter, and gravity actuated circuit closing means in the casing to energize and de-energize the lamp upon a forward and rearward tilting movement of the casing.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 520,446 Misell May 29, 1894 893,506 lscher July 14, 1908 1,103,605 Moeller July 14, 1914 1,143,340 V/hite June 15, 1915 1,517,153 Devine Nov. 25, 1924 2,167,109 Goldin July 25, 1939 2,290,972 Konopitski July 28, 1942 2,329,063 Lockwood Sept. 7, 1943 2,347,531 Yardeny Apr. 25, 1944 2,528,701 Mitchell Nov. 7, 1950 

